In this passage, God calls Abraham to go to the place He is to show him. Abraham is called to venture into the ‘unknown’. Abraham obeys God and departs from Haran. Abraham had possessions, people and property. He, probably, was a man of influence in Haran and yet, when God asked him to move he simply obeyed God. Terah, Abraham’s father, had earlier moved out of Ur of the Chaldeans. However, while on his way to Canaan he had settled down in Haran ( Gen 11: 31).
Now, God calls Abraham out from Haran to go and dwell in the land of Canaan. God moves Abraham out of the ‘settled-space’ and leads him to His plans and purposes. God calls us to His purposes and sometimes, moves us from our ‘settled spaces’ – our comfort zones – to lead us to His plans and purposes.
God calls us to His purposes and sometimes, moves us from our ‘settled spaces’ – our comfort zones - to lead us to His plans and purposes.
Abraham comes to the land of Canaan and passes through the land to Shechem. God appears before him and makes a promise: “ To your descendants, I will give this land” (v.7). This promise is nothing but reassurance of His earlier promise that he made when he asked Abraham to leave Haran.
God said, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your Father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will bless you…and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (v 1– 3). Abraham builds an altar and calls on the name of the Lord.
God 'unsettles' us as he calls us to follow His plans and purposes. But nevertheless, he strengthens with His promises as journey through the promise-fulfillment continuum.
God ‘unsettles’ us as he calls us to follow His plans and purposes. But nevertheless, he strengthens us with His promises as we journey through the promise-fulfilment continuum. God’s promise is something we can hold on to when we journey through the promise-fulfilment continuum.
Let’s hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, because the one who made the promises is reliable ( Hebrews 10: 23) He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24) If we are faithless, He remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself ( 2 Tim. 2: 13). Remember, God’s plans, purposes and promises stand forever.
Questions for Reflection
1) Are we ready to journey into the unknown, go beyond the familiar and journey through uncharted territories?
2) What are the temptations to stay stuck in ‘settled spaces’ and not pursue God’s purposes for our lives?
3) How do we relate to God’s promises as we journey through the promise-fulfilment continuum?
